I’ve tracked the world’s wealthiest people for Forbes for more than 16 years, first as an enterprising reporter and later as the editor who oversees all our global wealth coverage and ultimately signs off on the final ranks of the world’s billionaires. Over the years, I have valued everything from Polish telecom companies to property on the Black Sea Coast to an African game park. I have gotten to travel as far as Iceland, Singapore and South Africa to meet these folks at their homes, in their hotel rooms and on their yachts. Handling highly confidential and sensitive information is a critical part of my job, as is figuring out who to trust. It is never dull and I am always trying to uncover new information and out new billionaires. Any tips, email me at lkroll@forbes.com

1/27/2011 @ 12:36PM1,532 views

Davos: Chat with Nicolas Berggruen

Nicolas Berggruen, the homeless billionaire who sold off his residences in Manhattan and Miami in 2000, jetted into Switzerland yesterday for the World Economic Forum.

I met up with him at the Belvedere Hotel this afternoon and, after both confessing to being exhausted from the nonstop networking , wandered through the crowded, chaotic hotel in search of a spot to sit. Not an easy task as most rooms were already being set up for another night of parties. Once settled, we began talking about the issues and challenges facing the global economy, a good place to start given that he runs a think tank dedicated to good governance.

While he’s best known these days for his efforts to try to fix California’s broken government with $20 million of his own money , he is also very concerned about Europe and the G-20. He has already started setting up a G-20 group of ex-leaders, labor officials and other nonpolitical, nonelected individuals to interact and advice the G-20. ADDENDUM: As a reader pointed out, I should have written that he claims to have spoken with Sarkozy as I did not confirm the information with the president: He says he spoke to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who delivered a key note speech today (and issued a fiery defense of the Euro), and claims he is in favor of the idea.

Newer are his plans to set up a European project in Berlin. “Weak countries could continue to pull down strong countries,” he warns, “If Europe wants to have a place in the world, it will need to coordinate and become a federation.” His idea is to put together a group that will work with legislatures, the public and governments to get something done. “It’s much harder here than in the states,” says Berggruen, who is of German descent but now a U.S. citizen.

One conclusion he’s drawn from this year’s conference so far is the fact that many people are convinced that the so called emerging markets are progressing and that China is truly leading the way and being set up as a model of discipline and sacrifice for the West to learn from. Meanwhile the west is seen as having serious issues, such as high debt levels and workforces that need retraining. “The East learned a lot from the West,” says Berggruen and no one way should be followed.

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